This is probably one of the most depressing threads ever, they should put that first post on a brochure and hand them out to potential flight school students. Unfortunately most of the points that have been made are completly true. This career in my opinion is complete luck, I guess were all a bunch of gamblers.

Discussing the downside of this job does not equate to whining, complaining, crying or moaning. It is logical discourse about reality. Not everybody sees life through the rose-colored lenses you're looking out of. Its great that you are so positive about your job and I commend you on it, just know not everybody can share that 'joi de vivre' you have.

Chalk it up to the unbridled optimism of youth. I would've been right there with you 11 years ago. Family, life, economic concerns all wear on a person, and soon, very soon, reality sets in and overtakes optimism and replaces it with realism.

There are very few people who believe me when I tell them how much I make. My sister in law thought I would be making $60,000...I told her wait 12 years after I laughed at her.

A very good post though - a middle class white collar worker who hasn't been home for most the month just about sums it up completely!

what we're all facing right now is the perfect storm for stagnation in the industry. the advent of the retirement age change, the baloon in fuel costs over the summer that negated the majors higest revenue fiscal quarter, fear at the major level of re-regulation, and rampant greed in management

Don't worry I'm pretty sure they're reading these boards. Including those that have dads complete support as well as his car and blackberry.

duplicate post

What does "loving it" mean, exactly?

It seems to me that there are a LOT of pilots who have spent a full career working for the major airlines (that cosmoKramer describes as his dream job in the initial post)...who are bitter and cynical...and who make a lot of money.

What gives you satisfaction as a pilot? For a while, it is the allure of the bigger shinier airplane. Trade up from the 152 that you trained in, and the 182 seems like a ton of fun...for a while. Trade that up to a seminole and it once again seems awesome for a while until you start yearning for something bigger and better. The baron or king air that you get to fly while "time building" seems to be awesome until you again get the itch for something bigger and faster. Thus the baron becomes an RJ, which will eventually turn into a narrowbody, and finally a widebody.

What happens then?

Payscales follow a similar scale. It is human nature so yearn for the next big raise, and then upon getting it, to want the next bigger one. Read the major forums on this site and you will of read pilots wanting more.

Talk to just about anyone in eany industry and they will tell you that they are underpaid, and that <fill in the bank> other profession has things so much better.

While i'm not denying that the QOL of a regional FO or flight instructor has a lot to be desired I'm just saying that every pilot (or any career for that matter) must define for themselves what "loving it" means FOR THEM?

If salary and QOL is more important to you than flying, and you have a better chance of getting what you want (salary and QOL) outside aviation...then the choise seems clear to me.

Yep, yep. The problem is that this job should not become on par with driving a city bus. Have some dignity.

If you personally equate flying 121 with driving a city bus, then make some other flight job...Frax...coporate...international...your goal.

Or get out of aviation and make money in some other "dignified" ocupation.

That's the general idea, if we can actually get there.